PEX Lawsuit Information

A PEX lawsuit cause of action usually mentions pipes that rust too soon and give out, causing water damage and mold that affects homeowners and their health.

PEX Overview

PEX is known by different names and abbreviations in the industry - PEX and XLPE. It's another name for cross-linked polyethylene and is used for hydronic radiant heating systems, turned into tubing, for domestic water piping and insulation for high-tension electrical cables. The first PEX material was manufactured in the 1930s, by irradiating extruded tube with an electron beam.

Other uses may include the transportation of chemicals, sewage, natural gas, offshore oil and slurries. It's also being used more as an alternative to chlorinated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl chloride and copper piping. Common PEX tubing sizes used in installing water lines are 1/2-inch, 3/4-inch, and 1-inch. Detailed facts such as this are usually cited in a PEX lawsuit.

Residential homebuilders and plumbing contractors like PEX for its flexibility, as it turns 90 degrees to either side with a wide turn or using an adapter. Other forms of piping need elbow joints.

Its other attractive feature is the ability to run it from point A to point B with no cuts or splices, thus no weak spots, and it also costs less than traditional piping. Statistics show the cost of PEX is 25% lower than the alternatives and it installs in less time.

The industry figures PEX is the ideal replacement for metal and thermoplastic pipes, due to its expected lifetime of 50-200 years. There are even some possible applications for PEX in the world of dentistry and artificial joints.

The manufacturer of this pipe is Zurn PEX Inc. and Zurn Industries, these two companies are usually cited in a PEX lawsuit.

PEX Problems & Legal Issues

The major problems with PEX systems appear to be the brass fittings that fail shortly after installation. Although prized for its flexibility in the plumbing industry it still requires brass fittings at some of the joins. It's alleged the fittings are failing shortly after being installed.

The brass fittings in question connect sections of IPEX flexible aluminum pipe, sandwiched between an inner and outer layer of plastic pipe (PEX Pipe).

These plumbing systems use flexible plastic plumbing tubes, not the more common copper plumbing system. They are still however attached to brass fittings throughout the system.

When PEX Pipe systems were launched on the market, they were viewed as an innovation thanks to their lower cost and ability to install quickly. They were used as water-supply lines for household drinking and tap water and used in installing in-floor hot-water heating systems.

In New Mexico alone it's estimated that this system and the brass fittings were used in over 30,000 new homes. Many of the new homeowners chose to file a PEX lawsuit.

PEX Lawsuits

In 2007 Minnesota homeowners in St. Paul filed a nationwide class action lawsuit against the manufacturer of PEX piping, Zurn PEX Inc. and Zurn Industries. The suit alleged the brass fittings used failed after the completion of their new homes, causing water and other damage to the houses.

It was further alleged that a large portion of the brass fittings were hidden and difficult to access. Undetected fitting failures may cause mold that presents a health risk.

In the same year in New Mexico, another class action PEX lawsuit was filed seeking damages for homeowners in homes built with brass plumbing fittings. The fittings connected sections of the PEX plumbing system. The suit sought damages for the defective fittings, repairs and replacement costs and attorney's fees.

In North Dakota in 2007 a Bismarck man filed suit against PEX Industries and Zurn PEX for the installation of defective PEX tubing systems in his home that led to water leaks. Leave was sought to file a class action lawsuit. The allegations were the fittings were poorly designed and manufactured and failed after only one month of service. It was also alleged the leaks caused mold and other health problems.

Further difficulties appeared to be that the manufacturer did not honor its warranties and expected customers to pay for replacement and repair of the defective fittings.

If you have had PEX piping installed in your home and the fittings have failed, contact a lawyer and discuss your legal rights. Your attorney will assess your case, do some investigations and determine if you have a viable PEX lawsuit.




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